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IAESTE ANNUAL REVIEW 2009
21st CEC
1-3 May 2009, Novy Smokovec, Slovakia
Lubomir Hornak
CEC Co-ordinator
The Central European Convention (CEC) was founded in May
1998 in Tuheljske Toplice, Croatia on the initiative of Thomas
Haim, former National Secretary IAESTE Austria, and Mario
Kauzlaric, former National Secretary IAESTE Croatia. Due to
its great success, CEC is held twice a year. The main purpose
of CEC is to enhance co-operation between IAESTE Local
Committees in Central Europe and beyond, to co-ordinate joint
projects and to share experiences and
lessons learned. The focus lies on
ameliorating the exchange programme,
partnerships with local businesses and
university activities. CEC is organised
by six countries: Austria, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia
and Slovenia. Representatives of other
countries regularly attend CEC as well:
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany,
Greece, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Norway,
Poland, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland
and Turkey.
The 21st Central European Convention (CEC) took place
in Novy Smokovec in Slovakia and was organised by
IAESTE Slovakia. More than 150 delegates from 14
different countries attended. CEC is mainly for IAESTE
Members and Co-operating Institutions in central
Europe but other countries also attended this year.
21
The Seminar was opened on Friday evening by the
traditional presentation of countries and the Programme
continued on Saturday morning with nine Working
Groups where knowledge was shared along with suggested
solutions of current problems and new ways of co-operation.
The Work Groups this year were as follows: Local Committee
Management, IT Development, Summer Reception & Alumni,
Strategic Development, CEC Development, Communication,
Marketing & Fundraising, IAESTE for Beginners and IAESTE
Day. In the afternoon the Organising Team arranged a trip to
the picturesque Cold Creek Waterfalls in Vysoke Tatry (High
Tatras) mountains which ended with tasting traditional Slovak
cheese. After the trip the day was concluded with an International
evening.
From the very first CEC in May 1998 in Tuheljske Toplice (Croatia)
the Organisers and participants have developed the Seminar
and are passing on their experience and spirit to the next batch
of volunteers to help them to develop IAESTE in their own
countries.
The 22nd CEC will take place in Bohinj in Slovenia from 23-25
October 2009.